Wood St Coffee - Blackhorse Workshop - Walthamstow - E17

What a difference a year makes!

This time last year, we were planning a Christmas pop up at Little Mashers on Orford Road. We liked it so much, we set up shop! And had a fabulous residency in the heart of Walthamstow Village for seven months with Gareth taking the plunge, leaving his day job and serving coffee to the good people of E17 four days a week.

Fast forward to September this year and Wood St Coffee moved again. This time to Blackhorse Workshop and a stunning cafe space with loads of light, space, and seating! And there we remain.

Come say hai!

Blackhorse Workshop
1–2 Sutherland Rd Path
Walthamstow
London
E17 6BX

Mon - Fri - 08:00-17:00
Sat - 09:00-17:00

Montreal coffee shops

Today is less of a blog, more of a reblog. A late one at that. I went to Montreal at the beginning of October with work and was lucky enough to get a few days to explore the city. With time being of the essence, I was very lucky to be able to rely on Brian (of Brian's Coffee Spot fame) for some recommendations. His excellent and detailed blog post and personal tips on Twitter saved the day, letting me enjoy some of the best coffee the city has to offer even on my tight schedule.

Pikolo Espresso Bar

3418B Parc Avenue, Montreal, QC, H2X 2H5

With tables full of students tapping furiously away on their laptops, my friend and I felt a little out of place chatting in this tiny espresso bar. Cleverly installed seating alongside the narrow, galley-like counter and a mezzanine level gives some extra seating but at 11am on a weekday we were hard pressed to find a seat! Ordering a flat white and eponymous piccolo, we soon realised why the place is in such demand. 

The coffee was smooth, expertly poured and came with free wifi and a soundtrack which incorporated two of my favourite artists (Lykke Li and First Aid Kit) in the short time were were there. Result. Would definitely suggest you give this a try if ever in the area. pikoloespresso.com

Le Conteau (The Knife)
4627 Rue St Denis, Montreal, QC, H2J 2LA

We sought this place out for a well earned rest after a morning 'stroll' up to the top of Parc du Mont-Royal. We were hungry, thirsty and tired, and the laid back aesthetic of Le Conteau turned out to be the perfect tonic for our fatigue. Self-described as an artisan cafe, we were greeted by friendly service, amazing (gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free) brownies and B-E-A-UTIFUL coffee with beans from 49th Parallel. I went for a piccolo latte (which was basically a flat white) and enjoyed it so much I bought a bag of beans to bring home with me!

It's a fair way up Rue St Denis, but definitely worth the walk and there's some other great restaurants and shops around the top end of St Laurent Boulevard and Mount Royal Avenue. lecouteau.ca

Humble Lion
904 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montreal, QC H3A 1G3

Another student haunt, Humble Lion is directly opposite McGill University. Lovely and spacious with plenty of free seats and homely touches like bookshelves and school desks, the place feels like a labour of love. We went mid morning on a Saturday so it wasn't too busy with the students mostly off-campus.

I went for a latte, which was well poured with silky smooth milk but a little over-extracted which meant I was looking around for the sugar bowl. My friends had hot chocolates and, clearly,  someone was in the mood for showing off because they looked stunning and I am reliably informed tasted great too.

Humble Lion is close enough to town that it's easy to get to and chilled out at weekends (I imagine it gets pretty busy with students in the week) so worth a visit if you're going to take a look at the University Campus or on your way to Mont Royal. cafehumblelion.com

Wood St Coffee - a month old today

Happy birthday Wood St Coffee! You're a month old today!

The first month has gone swimmingly and we've already been asked if we're going to be open on more days of the week or do something more permanent. The answer is - we'd love to! But being practical souls, we're planning to take things one step at a time and try to grow the business organically rather than take out a giant loan or rush into something before we're ready. 

Starting something new is always scary and there's rarely reward without risk. Currently, our mantra is something like the below: 

Thank you!

So... potentially big things ahead. But really we want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone that has supported us so far. Friends, family, regulars, one timers. Everyone that has tweeted about us, liked us on Facebook or told their friends about us. 

Your feedback is what inspires us so please continue to let us (and the world) know what you think of our coffee. We'd really love your help to get the word out so if you have a spare few minutes and want to recommend us on your favourite website, or tweet your favourite magazine please do! Introduce us to your friend that writes a blog and we'll shout you both a coffee. If you need photos or want to chat to us just let us know - you can tweet us @woodstcoffee or email woodstcoffee@gmail.com 

Clare & Gareth x

 

Wood St Coffee - week 2

So, last Sunday the weather was Hot Hot Hot and looks like this weekend will be the same. The surprising turn to summer prompted an emergency dash for another cool box and a shed load of ice so that we could rise to the occasion with some iced coffees. 

After some careful research we settled on the cold brew method to delicately extract the coffee over 12 -14 hours so that the flavour is still there (and the caffeine) but without any bitterness. We were pretty impressed with the results, and so were our customers:

"So excited about @woodstcoffee - loved my iced coffee this morning. See you next week"

"An ice coffee of champions from @woodstcoffee. Good on you @WoodStMarket"

"@woodstcoffee best ice coffee ever. Top work guys!"

Andy Murray may have stolen everyone away in the afternoon but with that winning performance we suppose we can forgive him!

We'll be serving cold brew iced coffees again tomorrow - see you for a spot in the sunshine and a some ice cold refreshment! 

Open Sundays, 11 - 4 

Wood Street Indoor Market (Marlowe Road entrance).

Wood St Coffee, Walthamstow, E17

We've arrived! 

Last week saw the first Wood St Coffee pop up at Wood Street Indoor Market E17. It went down a storm, if we do say so ourselves, with most people seeking us out after hearing about it on Twitter. It seems like there's a massive demand in the local area for good coffee and we're more than happy to oblige. Here's some of the love we received on the day:

“Happy to report it’s now possible to get a flat white (and a good flat white at that) in #woodstreet thanks to @woodstcoffee.”

"Such good coffee! Think @WoodStMarket will be regular haunt on a Sunday from now on."

"Finally, good coffee has arrived in Walthamstow! Thanks @woodstcoffee."

"@woodstcoffee @WoodStMarket Thanks for the great coffee, & even a sunny spot to enjoy it on Marlowe Rd."

With beans from Climpson’s and Sons; organic milk; and cakes made right here in Walthamstow by Norman Loves and Lucy Scott Traybakes - really, we're just a platform for East London to show off!

Furniture restorer The Chair Man has kindly extended his ‘chair testing area’ so you can settle in and enjoy your coffee whilst listening to the soulful sounds of Hypstz’ extensive record collection or opt for the outside area opposite the park on Marlowe Road.

Here's our menu in case you're thinking of popping by and some pictures from the first day. More to follow! 

Check out our profile on the Wood Street E17 website: woodstcoffee.co.uk

Wood St Coffee

Wood Street Indoor Market, 98-100 Wood Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 3HX

Having dreamt about having a cafe of my own for years and writing about other people’s for nearly as long I am VERY pleased to announce (drum roll, marching band, full guard of honour if you please…) that I am starting a coffee pop up!

It may not be a full on cafe, but it’s a start. We have the venue (Wood Street Indoor Market), the coffee machine (eBay) and are speaking to a few local suppliers at the moment about our coffee, cake and milk needs.

It’s been quite a journey – from my first cafe job back in Essex, to experiencing true cafe culture in Melbourne, to sampling the local scene in London. And I’ll continue to tell you all about it here as we get ourselves set up. So, for my first post as WoodStreet Coffee, I’ll introduce you to our host – Wood Street Indoor Market.

Find Wood St Coffee on Facebook Twitter

Photos by SipOnePurlOne

An introduction to Mayfield Farm

Mayfield Farm, Sheering Road, Harlow, Essex, CM17 0JP

I literally could not be happier to finally be able to post about somewhere vaguely close to my hometown of Harlow, Essex. The town could easily be described as a culinary wasteland - saturated with supermarkets, chain restaurants and cafes - with nowhere suitable for a lazy breakfast or a decent coffee.

However... I have recently been made aware of Mayfield Farm Bakery & School (& cafe). I'll let their produce do the talking...

We popped in quickly one Saturday morning and I was absolutely bowled over that this little gem has been around the corner all the time! The breads are understandably incredible (head baker Nick has been doing this for 30 years) but the amazing pastries, cakes and local produce were unexpected!

There's all your traditional loaves as well as several variations of sour dough and flavoured breads - cheese & onion, stilton & raisin and beetroot to name a few. We had about three loaves as well as some fresh croissants and I'm going to make it my mission to come back for more each time I stay at my parent's!

Compared to the same quality produce in London, the prices are REALLY competitive so there's no excuse not to fancy-up your weekend with some artisan fare.

If you want to learn how to make bread you can sign up to their Bakery School - it's a bit pricey but I'm sure the four and a half hour session is worth every penny. Class sizes are small (15 people) so you're likely to get plenty of focussed tuition.

I'm not sure why I wasn't aware of this place before. When I mentioned it to some of my friends they seemed to know about it - maybe it's one of those well kept secrets everyone wants to keep to themselves? No matter their marketing strategy, it seemed busy enough when we were in there so seems like the word is out (or it is now anyway..!).

We didn't have time to stay for a coffee and something to eat so I'll visit the cafe next time I'm home (around Easter) and do a follow up post with details of the menu etc. CAN'T WAIT!

Mayfield Farm Bakery & School have a website, they're on Facebook and Twitter.

A review of J&A Cafe

J&A Cafe, 1-4 Sutton Lane, London, EC1M 5PU

A good thing about how blinking freezing it's been the last couple of weekends? Having an excuse to spend most of the day toasty warm in a cafe gorging on high calorie foodstuffs whilst saving on your heating bills.

Despite the biting winds, I made it as far as Clerkenwell last weekend to meet some friends for brunch. Farringdon station was easiest for us all to get to so I was tasked with seeking out a venue for our afternoon tryst. Luckily, I'd been keeping J&A Cafe at the back of my mind for a couple of months having discovered it after lunching at nearby St Ali (now called Workshop Coffee).

Tucked away down a tiny alleyway, the only clue to its existence from Clerkenwell Road is a sandwich board out on the street. Brave enough to duck through the doorway, I found an 'ever so cutesy' courtyard complete with fairy lights and bunting - and a cafe menu which was worth coming back for.

A year later I returned and wasn't disappointed. Greeted warmly soon after coming through the door, we were quickly seated and contemplating what would best warm our hearts and cockles. Despite deliberating for longer than strictly necessary, the waiting staff were patient and helpful in explaining any quirks of the menu.

It's not a big place but they've made good use of the space with a big communal table in the centre, flanked by smaller tables seating up to four people. The clientele was mostly youngish with a marked (and welcome) lack of children. No yummy mummies here.

Fresh tea, a well poured flat white and fruit juice were swiftly delivered to our table followed by our food order. Sitting directly behind the coffee machine and kitchen, it was a noisy spot that gave us ample chance to watch our brunch being freshly prepared.

The food was delicious, offering something for every mood - veggie breakfast for the virtuous and pancakes for a sweet tooth. I went for fried eggs on a potato cake and enjoyed a side of toast as advised by the waitress - the portion was a little on the small side. We were stuffed after just one course but there were some very tasty looking cakes and pastries had the mood struck us.

The food couldn't be faulted and we were left to our own devices despite staying to chat long after our bill had been paid. For great food, adult company and attentive service, J&A is a winner. Go.

J&A Cafe have a website, they're on Twitter and Facebook.

A review of Dishoom (breakfast)

I feel I should provide a disclaimer here that that the marketing manager at Dishoom is a very good friend of mine. I have eaten at both their Covent Garden and Shoreditch restaurants in her company but on the occasion I am going to reference here, was in neutral company. 

Disclaimer aside, I am probably still going to sound like she is whispering in my ear while I write this as I have no complaints to make at all about the service or food. I hope you will believe that what I write is an honest account:

7 Boundary Street, London, E2 7JE

London's very own Bombay Cafe, Dishoom opened the doors to its new Shoreditch premises in October. We went along for one of their dry runs for dinner and were suitably impressed with the decadent cocktails and fresh, fragrant dishes on offer. From grilled paneer tikka to their slow-cooked pulled lamb this is not your typical East End indian restaurant. 

So, on a cheeky Friday off work we thought we'd try something different and give Dishoom's breakfast a try. They serve the breakfast menu until 11.30 on weekdays and until 1pm for a more casual start at the weekend. 

We rocked up 20 minutes before the end of service and were greeted with a smile and a sun-filled booth at the front of the restaurant. Given how busy the cafes on nearby Redchurch Street get during the morning's breakfast meeting rush, it was surprisingly quiet. Perhaps the city boys haven't cottoned on to the delights of a bombay breakfast. It won't be long. 

I ordered English breakfast Assam tea which came loose leaf in a large pot with my choice of milk and sugar on the side. My fella ordered the chai which was absolutely delicious. It wouldn't usually be my first choice for breakfast but on a cold November morning, its delicate fusion of spices couldn't be more comforting. 

To eat, I had the Bombay Omelette which was subtly flavoured and beautifully light for that time in the morning. Balanced with grilled tomatoes and Dishoom's own variety of 'fire toast' (first buttered, then thrown onto the grill) it was perfectly proportioned and very reasonable at under 6 quid. 

Fella had the bacon naan roll which was quite small, but at £3.70 you could always have 2 if you're that hungry! The chilli tomato jam, smoky bacon and fresh cream cheese were brilliantly balanced to create a tongue tingling combination, and along with the chai was the star of the show. 

Reasonably priced, more tasty than your run of the mill eggs on toast and all in the stunning surroundings of Dishoom's new Shoreditch location, I felt extremely spoilt on a Friday morning. Happy happy girl. CHECK THEM OUT SOON!

You can take a look at Dishoom's website, follow them on Twitter and find them on Facebook. 

A review of The Electric Elephant

186a Crampton Street, Camberwell, London, SE17 3AE

There are times in life when emergency cake is called for and The Electric Elephant was there for my sister and I on one such occasion recently.  Although they usually close around 5pm, the weather was nice and they still had a few customers so obliged us by staying open an extra hour.

My sister works in Elephant and Castle and had come across the place with her colleagues. Knowing I'm always on the prowl for new material (and rarely manage to branch out from east London), it was the perfect recommendation for after-work, pre-dinner, tea and brownies.

The cakes are homemade (there was also a rustic looking bread pudding), there's pastries, and a full lunch menu including soup, sarnies and paninis in the day time.

The cafe backs onto a really pretty little yard and there's some outside seating if you want to catch a few rays. What a little gem.

The Electric Elephant has a website.